Phillies Notes: Galvis reinstated, but back injury will sideline him

By Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: August 18, 2012

MILWAUKEE - About the only thing that will change Friday for Freddy Galvis is he will start earning a salary again. But even though his 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs ends, Galvis remains sidelined.

A fractured back will probably keep the infielder from playing for the Phillies again in 2012. Galvis has been instructed not to participate in "game situations" until at least Sept. 3, assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said. That marks 12 weeks since the injury was suffered.

"We'll have to decide what we'll do with him," Proefrock said. "Obviously, he won't be ready to play right away."

Because the organization's minor-league affiliates will be done playing around then, the Phillies will consider using Galvis during the fall instructional league in preparation for winter ball in his native Venezuela.

Galvis lost approximately $133,000 in salary during his suspension. He returned home to Venezuela for most of it and also spent time rehabbing in Florida.

The Phillies must reinstate him from the restricted list Friday. He will immediately return to the 15-day disabled list. The 22-year-old hit .226 with a .617 OPS in 58 games with the Phillies and was lauded for his defense.

He figures to have a spot on the 2013 Phillies, most likely as a utility infielder.

"We'll get him ready to go play winter ball," Proefrock said. "I don't think anything is set in stone."

Pitcher for Blanton

The Phillies received single-A righthander Ryan O'Sullivan from the Los Angeles Dodgers as the player to be named later to complete the trade for Joe Blanton.

O'Sullivan, 21, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Dodgers in 2011. He began the season as a starter but transitioned to a relief role upon being promoted to high single-A Rancho Cucamonga. While there, he posted a 3.57 ERA in 14 games with 12 strikeouts and eight walks in 172/3 innings. He has only 60 strikeouts in 97 career professional innings.

He could not be included in the deal until Thursday because he was drafted last summer. Major League Baseball rules stipulate a player cannot be dealt less than a year after being drafted.

Extra bases

Placido Polanco began his official rehab assignment by playing five innings at third base for single-A Clearwater. He was 1 for 3 with an RBI. He is expected to play two more games there and be activated Monday when the Phillies return home.